In subsequent years this course was taught by Sweezy, Schumpeter, and Taylor.

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1936-37HARVARD UNIVERSITYECONOMICS 11b2

IWrite about one hour

If you were setting out to write a book on the Soviet economic system on what questions would you concentrate your attention? To what extent do the Webb’s provide adequate answers to these questions and in what respects do you regard their treatment as deficient?

IIAnswer four questions

Discuss briefly Utopian Socialism and Chartism and indicate what, if any, relation they bear to each other and to the modern socialist movement.

For what types of economic problems would you consider the Marxian method of analysis superior to the orthodox (equilibrium) method?

To what extent, if at all, does Marx’s analysis of the decline of capitalism depend upon the growth of large scale enterprise?

What is Lenin’s theory of imperialism? How is it related to Marx’s analysis of capitalism?

“The proper goal for socialist economic planners is that disposition and use of resources which is supposed to be achieved by the perfectly competitive market.” Discuss.

1938-39HARVARD UNIVERSITYECONOMICS 11b2

I
(Reading Period — one hour)

From your reading in the Webbs and your general knowledge of American conditions, what do you take to be the fundamental differences between the economic systems of the Soviet Union and the United States? Support your answer by justifying the criteria which you have selected for the purpose of judging what are the fundamentally significant characteristics of an economic system.

II
(Answer TWO — one hour)

What is the relation, if any, of Marx’s “Tendency toward concentration and centralization of capital,” to monopoly problems as now understood?

What elements of Marx’s thought impress you as having been influenced by the writing of his Utopian predecessors?

On the basis of Marxian analysis how would you judge the political future of a farmer-labor affiliation in the United States?

III
(Answer TWO — one hour)

“Take away the labor theory of value and the whole of Marx’s gigantic structure crashes to the ground.” Discuss.

In your judgment does the rise of fascism in post-war Europe tend to confirm or refute Lenin’s theory of imperialism?

“Mises is wrong; Lange and Taylor are right. But the whole dispute is very much a tempest in a teacup. It has very little to do with either the desirability or the workability of a socialist society.” What dispute? Do you agree that “Mises is wrong; Lange and Taylor are right”? What is your own judgment as to the importance of the dispute?